Onaga Trail in Yucca Valley was shut down in both directions for nearly four hours Sunday afternoon as crews worked to repair a gas leak. According to County Fire Captain Jay Dimoff, a Hi-Desert Water District employee was digging to repair a water leak in the 57500 block of Onaga Trail about 2 p.m. when he hit a 3-inch gas line. Dimoff said that the large amount of gas released into the air was a public safety hazard and they were called to the scene where they stood by for the next 3 ½ to 4 hours until gas company employees from the lower desert could repair the leak. Only a few homes were affected by the ruptured gas line, but because the water pipe was still leaking, water service was turned off in a 2-block area until the gas leak was fixed.

The San Bernardino County Public Health Department will be providing free flu shots to the community on Wednesday, November 6, at the Twentynine Palms Senior Center, 6539 Adobe Road, in Twentynine Palms. This event sponsored by Reach Out Morongo Basin is open to all residents of the Morongo Basin who meet health guidelines and will run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. To receive free flu shots you must be 3 years and older (minors must be accompanied by parent or guardian); pregnant women will be offered flu shots on a first-come, first-serve basis due to limited supply. Flu mist intranasal vaccine is available for healthy non-pregnant people age 2 thru 49 years only. For more information contact Reach Out at 760-361-1410.

The Town of Yucca Valley will hold a series of public information meeting for the Highway 62 Raised Median Island and Sidewalk Project currently under construction. The first meeting is set for Wednesday, November 6, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., in the Cholla Room at the Yucca Valley Community Center. The meeting will cover topics such as anticipated project schedule, progress, timelines, business access, issues, concerns, and communication during the project construction. Additional public information meetings will take place every other Wednesday, starting at 9 a.m. in the Community Center’s Cholla Room: November 20, December 4, December 18, and January 8, 2014.

The Sheriff’s Department is concerned with bullying among young people here in the Morongo basin. Z107.7 news is running a 4 part series identifying different types of bullying. Here is Sheriff’s Service specialist Anita Baker with part 2, verbal bullying…..
There are several different types of bullying. Some of the various forms of bullying are verbal, social/emotional, physical, and cyberbullying. Most of us have experienced verbal bullying. This happens when someone calls another person names, or otherwise teases them. Kids may tease a child who has red hair or is otherwise perceived to be “different” than everyone else. We need to value and respect each other’s differences.

The Animal Action League will be offering low-cost vaccine clinics in November for dogs and cats, as well as low-cost spaying and neutering. No appointments are necessary for vaccines; appointments are required for spay and neutering services. Clinics will be held from 10 to 2 at the following locations and dates: in Joshua Tree, behind the dinosaurs on Highway 62: November 5, 13, 14, 25, and 26. To make an appointment for spay or neutering, call 760-322-4560. Visit animalactionleague.us for updated schedules on clinics.

Where were you on November 22, 1963? The Morongo Basin Historical Society is presenting the 50th Anniversary Kennedy Project at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum Yucca Valley on Wednesday November 20 at 5:30. The Historical Society is looking for people who were residing in the greater Morongo Basin area at the time of the assassination. Come and share your stories, memorabilia and your feelings about the day 50 years ago when President John F Kennedy was killed in Dallas. Call Laurie at 760-363-6681 to participate in this project.

On the heels of the firing of CEO Administrator Lionel “Chad” Chadwick last week, the Hi-Desert Medical Center Board of Directors will meet for a special closed session at 6:30 tonight in the Helen Gray Education Center on the hospital campus. On the closed session agenda, strategic relationships and services.

There’s a sign on Route 62 on the west side of Twentynine Palms that reads “SCVC.” Dan Stork has some information on the Southern California Vipassana (vih-PAHSS-a-nuh) Center for you to meditate upon…
The Southern California Vipassana Center in Twentynine Palms is, by intent, a quiet place in the desert. Its purpose is to house visitors for silent retreats, most of which last 10 days. Except for the first and last days of such a retreat, up to 60 visitors rise at 4 a.m., and meditate for about 10 hours, broken by vegetarian meals, rest periods, and a video lecture in the early evening, before retiring at 9 p.m. They may speak to the instructor or to management staff about material needs, but not to each other. Following traditional practice, students at SCVC receive meditation instruction, food and lodging free of charge. After completing a course, students may donate so that future students will have the same opportunity to learn the technique. All the work of running the center and managing the courses is done by volunteers who are practicing the technique of vipassana. The center serves students from all over the U.S. and many foreign countries, but also encourages residents of the Morongo Basin to sign up for a 10-day course. For more information about SCVC and Vipassana meditation, which is a non-sectarian practice with Buddhist roots, there is a link in this story at Z1077fm.com. http://www.vaddhana.dhamma.org/

Thursday, October 31, the top singles players and doubles teams in tennis from the De Anza League competed at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Representing Twentynine Palms High School in singles was number 1 ranked Tassia Lucas, who defeated number 4 ranked singles player, Amanda Ayani from Yucca Valley High School to advance to the finals. Number 2 ranked Paige Rossi, from Twentynine Palms, defeated Number 3 ranked, Cindy Sou from Yucca Valley. In doubles, the number 1 ranked team of Rebecca Raines and Heather Lebeda from Twentynine Palms beat Niya Custer and Victoria Filia from Big Bear, and Wildcats Arin Tripp and Heather Center won a tiebreaker against Trojans Aimee Frank and Cionne Lonergan. In the finals, it was all Twentynine Palms with Lucas taking gold and Rossi the silver medals. Raines and Lebeda fought hard to retain their gold, with Tripp and Centner taking the silver. Yucca Valley’s Amanda Ayani earned bronze in singles. The ladies will now travel to Claremont to compete in the CIF Individual tournament, scheduled for Monday, November 25.

The Twentynine Palms High School Varsity Wildcats scored 45 points in the first three quarters of play, and rolled to an easy 45-12 victory Friday night against Desert Mirage in De Anza league action. Sophomore running back Beayahn Carrllo had three touchdowns on the night in a breakout performance. Senior quarterback Jake Culver found senior Darren Murphy for two touchdowns and connected to Talo Wilson for another. Defensively, Senior David Falefitu had a fumble return for a score, and another sack. A.J. Rangel led the team in tackles with 10, while Talo Wilson, Darren Murphy, Dylan Martinez, and Andrew Wilson teamed up for 28 tackles and two forced fumbles. With the victory, the ’Cats have jumped into a 4-way tie for second place in the De Anza league race, with one game left to play.

The Yucca Valley High School Trojans lost to Desert Hot Springs 39-28. The leading rusher was Gabe Sosa with 72 yards and one touchdown. Leading receivers were Brandon Lopez with eight catches and Logan Vallo with seven. Both had one touchdown catch each. Bradley Soares completed 26 passes for 244 yards and two touchdown passes.
On defense, Joey Rutherford led the way with 24 tackles and one forced fumble. Logan Vallo had a season-high 12 tackles, forced one fumble and recovered two fumbles. The Trojans will face Yucca Valley in the all-important Kiwanis “Battle of the Bell” game next Friday night at Tom Nicoll Stadium in Twentynine Palms.

The cross-basin rivalry, “The Battle of the Bell” football game between Twentynine Palms and Yucca Valley High Schools is this Friday night. This year’s game will see highlights and scores broadcast live from the sidelines by Z107.7. ROP Broadcast student and football player Tyler McGahuey give us his take on the big game……
The Twentynine Palms Wildcats have the most anticipated game of the year at the end of the season against the Yucca Valley Trojans. It’s the Battle of the Bell. Every year Twentynine Palms and Yucca Valley duke it out to see who comes out on top and takes home the bell. So far, the Wildcats have won the bell a total of 27 times, and they have had it eight years in a row and are looking to keep their streak going. While the Trojans have swiped the bell a total of 18 times, their last victory was in 2004. The rivalry began in 1968, due to the former teammates going to the newly built Yucca school. All the games have been clean, smash-mouth football, with very little confrontation. So if you’re looking for a great game to watch, it will take place at the Wildcats’ home field on November 8.

In high school sports tomorrow, the Yucca Valley girls’ volleyball team travels away to play Shadow Hills High School, and the Twentynine Palms High School volleyball team travels to Desert Hot Springs. Match time for both games is at 4:30.

The Joshua Springs Christian School girls’ volleyball team travels to play Redland Adventist Academy. First serve is at 5 p.m.